Stick Picks
Blog
Field-tested references for cigar collectors.
- How to Open a Cigar Box: Every Closure Type Explained
Nailed dress box? Sliding lid? Clasp? Learn how to open every cigar box type without damaging the lid, the label, or the cigars inside.
- What Is a Cameroon Wrapper Cigar? Flavor & Guide
Cameroon wrapper cigars deliver sweet baking-spice, cedar, and toasted-nut flavors in a thin, toothy leaf. Learn what sets this rare African wrapper apart.
- How to Store Cigars in a Dry Climate: The Full Guide
Living in Arizona, Colorado, or Nevada? Learn exactly how to keep your humidor at the right RH when the air outside is bone-dry — without over-correcting.
- Inherited a Cigar Collection? Here's What to Do
Just inherited cigars or a humidor? Learn how to assess condition, identify what you have, preserve value, and decide whether to keep, smoke, or sell the collection.
- Cigar Cap Types: Flat, Triple, Pigtail & More Explained
Flat, triple, pigtail, flag, or torpedo — each cigar cap type affects how you cut, smoke, and store it. Here's what every collector needs to know.
- How to Freeze Cigars to Kill Beetles (Without Damage)
Freezing cigars kills tobacco beetle eggs and larvae in 3 stages. Here's the exact protocol collectors use to protect their humidor without cracking wrappers.
- How to Store Cigar Bundles: The Collector's Guide
Cigar bundles store best unwrapped from plastic and placed in a humidor at 65–70% RH. Learn how bundle storage differs from boxed cigars and whether they age well.
- How to Trade Cigars: The Collector's Complete Guide
Learn how to trade cigars with other collectors — valuing sticks fairly, finding trusted partners, shipping safely, and mastering herf etiquette.
- Are Cuban Cigars Worth It? A Collector's Honest Guide
Cuban cigars deliver a unique flavor profile, but cost 2–3× more than comparable New World sticks with looser quality control. Here's when they're worth it.
- Cigar Aging Timeline: What Happens at 1, 3, 5 & 10 Years
What really happens to a cigar as it ages? Year-by-year flavor, chemistry & wrapper changes explained — plus when to smoke and when to keep waiting.
- Can You Store Flavored Cigars with Regular Cigars?
No — flavored cigars will infuse your entire humidor. Learn why, how fast it happens, and the best ways to store them separately without ruining your collection.
- Torpedo vs Belicoso vs Pyramid Cigar: What's the Difference?
Torpedo, belicoso, and pyramid cigars all taper to a point — but they smoke very differently. Learn the exact differences in shape, draw, flavor, and which to collect.
- How to Taste a Cigar: A Collector's Tasting Guide
Learn how to taste a cigar properly — cold draw, smoking by thirds, pacing, and what flavors to expect. A practical guide for adult collectors who want more from every smoke.
- What Is a Corojo Cigar? Flavor, History & What to Buy
Corojo is a Cuban-seed wrapper known for bold pepper, cedar, and caramel notes. Learn its history, regional variations, flavor profile, and the best Corojo cigars to collect.
- How to Insure Your Cigar Collection: A Collector's Guide
Your homeowners policy probably won't cover your full cigar collection. Here's how to document value, add a rider, and protect what's in your humidor.
- Cigar Factory Seconds & Overruns: Are They Worth It?
Factory seconds and overruns are premium cigars at steep discounts — same tobacco, minor flaws. Learn what they are, how to buy smart, and when to skip them.
- Electric Humidor vs. Regular: Do You Need One?
Electric humidors offer ±1–2% RH precision vs ±5–10% for passive wood boxes. Find out exactly when upgrading makes sense for your cigar collection.
- How to Cleanse Your Palate Between Cigars
Reset your taste buds between smokes with these proven palate cleansers — water, coffee, dark chocolate & more. Get the most flavor from every cigar.
- Why Is My Cigar Wrapper Cracking? Causes & Fixes
Dry storage, dull cutters, and rough handling crack cigar wrappers. Learn every cause, how to repair a cracked or peeling wrapper, and how to prevent it.
- Cigar Flavor Wheel: How to Use It & What to Taste
A cigar flavor wheel maps broad taste families down to specific notes like cedar, cocoa, and black pepper. Here's how collectors use it to taste and record every smoke.
- Best Cigar for Time of Day: Morning, Afternoon & Evening
Match your cigar to the clock. Mild in the morning, medium at midday, full at dusk — here's how body, strength, and palate science guide the right pick every time.
- Connecticut vs. Habano Wrapper: Which Cigar Is Right for You?
Connecticut wrapper = mild, creamy, smooth. Habano = spicy, complex, medium-full. This guide breaks down flavor, strength, aging, and which to collect.
- Nicaraguan vs. Dominican Cigars: Flavor, Strength & Which to Collect
Nicaraguan cigars are bolder, earthier, and spicier. Dominican cigars are smoother, creamier, and more refined. Here's how to choose — and which to cellar.
- 65 vs 69 vs 72% RH for Cigars: Which Setting Wins?
65%, 69%, or 72% RH — which humidity is right for your humidor? This guide explains what each set-point does to flavor, burn, and aging so you can choose.
- Cigar Cabinet Humidor vs. Desktop: When to Upgrade
A desktop humidor works fine — until your collection outgrows it. Learn exactly when a cabinet humidor makes sense, what it costs, and how to choose the right one.
- Do Cigars Get Better with Age? The Science Explained
Yes — but only under the right conditions. Learn what actually happens inside a cigar as it ages, which cigars benefit most, and when aging stops helping.
- Store Cigars in the Box or Loose in Your Humidor?
Boxed or loose? Learn exactly when to keep cigars in their original box inside your humidor vs. storing them loose — and how each method affects aging and flavor.
- How to Start a Cigar Cellar: The Collector's Complete Guide
A cigar cellar is a dedicated long-term aging setup beyond a single humidor. Learn how to start one, what storage to use, ideal conditions, and how to organize it.
- What Is a Herf? The Cigar Collector's Guide to Herfing
A herf is a casual cigar gathering where enthusiasts smoke, trade, and talk tobacco. Learn what herfing is, what to bring, and how to host or attend one.
- How to Inspect a Cigar Before You Light It
Learn how to tell if a cigar is well made before lighting. Check construction, wrapper, draw, aroma & cap with this pre-light inspection guide for collectors.
- Cigar Tubes in Your Humidor: Cap On, Off, or Remove?
Should you store cigars in their tubes inside a humidor? Get the definitive answer on cap-on vs cap-off vs tube-removed storage, aging effects, and when tubes help.
- Robusto vs. Toro vs. Churchill: Which Size Is Right for You?
Robusto, Toro, or Churchill? Compare flavor, burn time, ring gauge & storage differences to pick the right cigar size for every occasion and humidor.
- Humidor Seasonal Maintenance: Summer & Winter Guide
Humidity drops in winter and spikes in summer — here's exactly how to adjust your humidor each season so your cigars stay in perfect condition year-round.
- Glass Top Humidor vs Solid Wood: Which Is Right for You?
Glass top humidors look stunning but create real storage trade-offs. Here's how they compare to solid wood on humidity, aging, sealing, and light exposure.
- How to Save a Cigar for Later: Storage & Relight Guide
Yes, you can save a half-smoked cigar — if you do it right. Learn exactly how to extinguish, trim, store, and relight without ruining the flavor.
- V-Cut vs Straight Cut vs Punch: Which Cigar Cut Wins?
V-cut, straight cut, or punch — each changes your draw and flavor. Here's exactly which cigar cutter to use, when, and why it matters for your humidor collection.
- How Often Should You Smoke a Cigar? A Collector's Guide
One to two cigars per week suits most collectors. Learn how smoking frequency affects palate, nicotine tolerance, humidor rotation, and long-term enjoyment.
- What Is a Maduro Cigar? Flavor, Strength & What to Expect
Maduro means 'ripe' — not strong. Learn how dark wrappers are made, what they taste like, and how to pick a maduro cigar for your humidor.
- Cedar Sheets & Dividers for Your Humidor: Full Guide
Cedar sheets and dividers boost humidity buffering, reduce flavor transfer, and deter beetles. Learn how to use them in any humidor or tupperdor setup.
- Handmade vs. Machine-Made Cigars: What's the Difference?
Handmade cigars use long-filler leaf rolled by a torcedor; machine-made use chopped short-filler. Learn every difference — construction, flavor, aging, and value.
- How to Dry Box Cigars: When, Why & How Long
Dry boxing improves burn and flavor by briefly removing a cigar from humidity before smoking. Learn when to do it, how long it takes, and what to expect.
- Cigar Ring Gauge: How Size Affects Flavor, Draw & Burn
Ring gauge measures a cigar's diameter in 64ths of an inch — and it changes everything: wrapper influence, smoke temperature, draw resistance, and flavor complexity.
- Best Humidor Alternatives for Cigars (Ranked & Compared)
A tupperdor, coolidor, mason jar, or Ziploc with Boveda can all protect cigars properly. Here's how each option ranks for cost, capacity, and storage length.
- Cigar Box Date Codes: How to Tell How Old Your Cigars Are
Learn to decode cigar box date stamps, factory codes, and production marks so you know exactly how old your cigars are and when the tobacco was rolled.
- How to Remove Health Warning Labels from Cigar Boxes
Health warning stickers ruining your display boxes? Here's how to remove them cleanly without damaging the artwork — methods ranked by box type and risk.
- Cedar Spills for Cigars: What They Are & How to Use Them
Cedar spills are thin Spanish cedar strips that light cigars cleanly, with no butane taste. Learn what they are, how to make & use them, and when to skip them.
- Cigar Nicotine Sickness: How to Prevent & Cure It
Feeling dizzy or nauseous from a cigar? Learn what causes nic sick, how to prevent cigar sickness before it hits, and how to recover fast.
- How Many Cigars Should You Have in Your Humidor?
The right number of cigars in your humidor depends on how often you smoke, your aging goals, and your storage setup. Here's how collectors calculate the ideal count.
- Digital vs. Analog Hygrometer for Your Humidor: Which Wins?
Digital hygrometers beat analog on accuracy (±1–2% vs. ±10%) for most collectors. Learn which type fits your humidor, budget, and collection size.
- Limited Edition Cigars: Are They Worth Buying & Collecting?
Limited edition cigars can be worth it — but only when scarcity is real, not marketing. Learn how to spot genuine releases, what drives value, and how to collect smart.
- What Cigar Should I Smoke First? A Beginner's Guide
Choosing your first cigar? Start mild-to-medium, pick a Robusto format, and avoid full-bodied blends. This guide covers strength, wrapper, size, and what to expect.
- Can You Store Cigars in a Ziplock Bag? The Real Answer
Yes—but only briefly. Learn exactly how long cigars last in a Ziplock bag, when it works, when it fails, and what to do instead for short and long-term storage.
- Can You Use a Cigar Box as a Humidor? The Real Answer
A cigar box alone won't hold humidity long-term, but the right cedar box with a humidity pack can work short-term. Here's exactly when it works—and when it doesn't.
- How Long Should a Cigar Last? Smoking Time by Size
Most cigars last 30–90 minutes. Learn ideal smoking times by vitola, why pace and storage control burn length, and how to get every minute out of your stick.
- Do You Need Two Humidors? Aging vs. Smoking Setup
Not necessarily — but most serious collectors benefit from splitting their setup. Learn when a second humidor for aging pays off and how to set up each one.
- How Full Should a Humidor Be? The Collector's Fill Guide
Keep your humidor 70–80% full for best humidity balance. Too few or too many cigars both cause problems. Here's the exact fill rule every collector needs.
- Cigar Subscription Boxes: Are They Worth It for Collectors?
Cigar subscription boxes deliver curated sticks monthly — but are they worth it for serious collectors? Here's what to know before you subscribe.
- How to Ash a Cigar: Timing, Color & Technique Guide
Learn when and how to ash a cigar, what ash color tells you about tobacco quality, and why proper ashing keeps your burn even and your smoke clean.
- Cigar Foot Types: Open, Closed & Shaggy Explained
Open, closed, and shaggy foot cigars smoke and light differently. Learn what each foot type means, how to light it correctly, and what it signals about flavor.
- How to Tell If a Cigar Is Too Dry: 7 Signs to Check
Dry cigars burn hot, crack, and taste harsh. Learn the 7 physical signs your cigars need attention — and what each symptom means for your humidor.
- Do Cigars Go Bad or Expire? A Collector's Guide
Cigars don't have an expiration date, but they absolutely can go bad. Learn exactly what ruins a cigar, how long they last, and how to protect your collection.
- How to Fix Over-Humidified Cigars (Too Wet)
Cigars too wet and spongy? Learn to spot the signs of over-humidification, dry-box correctly, and prevent it from happening again. Full collector's guide.
- How to Gift Cigars: A Collector's Complete Guide
Gifting cigars well means matching strength, format, and storage to the recipient. This collector's guide covers selection, presentation, and etiquette for every occasion.
- Parts of a Cigar Explained: Every Section & Why It Matters
Learn every part of a cigar — cap, head, shoulder, foot, body, band, ring gauge & more — and how each one affects your cut, light, draw, and flavor.
- Can You Relight a Cigar? How to Save & Relight Right
Yes, you can relight a cigar — if you do it right. Learn how to extinguish, store, and relight a half-smoked cigar without wrecking the flavor.
- Cigar Band Meanings: What Every Mark Tells You
Cigar band markings reveal brand, origin, wrapper, vintage year, and more. Learn how to decode every symbol, seal, and secondary band like a seasoned collector.
- How to Read a Cigar Box: Codes, Dates & Marks Explained
Learn what every stamp, code, and mark on a cigar box means — production dates, factory codes, box styles, and band anatomy decoded for collectors.
- Cigar Lighter Guide: Torch vs. Soft Flame vs. Matches
Torch, soft flame, cedar spill, or matches — which cigar lighter is right for you? We break down every option so you protect flavor and get an even light.
- Cigar Sick Period: What Shipping Does & How to Fix It
Shipping stresses cigars with heat, cold, and humidity swings. Learn what the cigar sick period is, how long it lasts, and the exact recovery steps.
- How Long Do Cigars Last Without a Humidor?
Unwrapped cigars go stale in 1–3 days. Sealed boxes buy ~6 weeks. Learn the exact degradation timeline, emergency storage fixes, and how to save dried-out sticks.
- How to Track Your Cigar Collection's Value
Learn how to catalog your humidor, calculate what your cigars are worth, and track value over time — with methods every collector can use today.
- Cigar Burn Problems: Fix Canoeing, Tunneling & More
Cigar canoeing, tunneling, and uneven burns are fixable. Learn what causes each burn problem and exactly how to correct or prevent it mid-smoke.
- Cigar Punch vs. Cutter: Which Should You Use?
Punch or cutter? Learn exactly when to use each, how they affect draw and flavor, and which tool suits your cigars, ring gauge, and smoking style.
- How to Develop a Cigar Palate: A Collector's Training Guide
Learn how to develop a cigar palate with practical tasting techniques, comparison drills, and flavor-tracking habits that sharpen your sensory skills over time.
- Box-Pressed Cigars: Do They Smoke, Age & Store Differently?
Box-pressed cigars burn slower, draw differently, and age uniquely compared to round sticks. Here's what every collector needs to know before buying.
- How to Smoke a Cigar: Pacing, Ash & Technique Guide
Learn how to smoke a cigar properly — the right puff cadence, ash technique, draw pace, and when to stop. A collector's guide to getting the most from every stick.
- Why Your Humidor Won't Hold Humidity (and How to Fix It)
Humidor not holding humidity? Learn the 7 real causes — bad seal, over-filling, wrong humidifier, poor seasoning — and how to fix each one fast.
- Cigar Lounge Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules Explained
First time at a cigar lounge? Learn the unwritten rules — from buying in-house to sharing cigars, puff pace, and phone use — so you fit in from day one.
- Cigar Humidifier Types: Foam, Gel, Beads, Packs & Electronic
Foam, gel crystals, silica beads, two-way packs, or electronic — which cigar humidifier is right for your humidor? A collector's complete comparison guide.
- How to Retrohale a Cigar: Unlock Hidden Flavors
Retrohaling lets you taste up to 80% more of a cigar's flavor by exhaling smoke through your nose. Step-by-step technique guide for collectors.
- Cigar Humidity by Wrapper & Origin: The Exact RH Guide
Not all cigars store best at the same RH. Learn the ideal humidity for Maduros, Connecticut, Cuban, and aging vs. everyday cigars — with a quick-reference table.
- Infused Cigars vs. Natural Cigars: What Every Collector Should Know
Infused cigars add botanicals and essences before rolling; natural cigars rely on aged tobacco alone. Here's how they differ in flavor, storage, and collectibility.
- Cigar Price Tiers: How Much Should You Spend Per Stick?
Budget, mid-range, premium, or ultra-premium? Learn what you actually get at every cigar price tier and how to allocate your humidor budget wisely.
- How to Spot a Fake Cuban Cigar: The Collector's Guide
Real Cuban cigars have specific box markings, seal holograms, band details, and construction tells. Learn exactly how to authenticate any Cuban cigar before you buy.
- Cigar Country of Origin: How Terroir Shapes Flavor
Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Cuba — each country gives cigars a distinct flavor. This collector's guide explains how terroir shapes every puff.
- How Cigar Ratings Work: The 100-Point Scale Explained
Cigar ratings use a 100-point blind-tasting scale. Learn how scores are assigned, what 90+ really means, which publications matter, and how to use ratings to build a smarter collection.
- Cigar Filler, Binder & Wrapper: What Each Part Does
The wrapper, binder, and filler each shape flavor, burn, and strength differently. Learn what every part of a cigar does and how to use that knowledge when buying.
- Buying Cigars by the Box vs. Singles: What's Worth It?
Box or singles? Learn exactly when to commit to a full box of cigars, when to stay flexible with singles or 5-packs, and how to build a smarter humidor.
- How to Fix Cigar Draw Problems: Tight, Loose & Plugged
Cigar draw too tight or too loose? Learn every fix — from cut adjustments and draw tools to dry-boxing — to rescue any plugged or airy cigar in your humidor.
- How to Clean a Humidor: The Collector's Complete Guide
Learn exactly how to clean a humidor — routine wipe-downs, mold removal, and beetle protocol — so your collection stays fresh and your cedar lasts for years.
- How to Rotate Cigars in a Humidor: The Complete Guide
Learn why and how to rotate cigars in your humidor for even humidity. Step-by-step method, rotation schedule, and tips for desktop, coolidor, and wineador storage.
- When to Remove a Cigar Band (and How to Do It Right)
Remove a cigar band after smoking 2–3 minutes so heat softens the glue. Learn the right timing, step-by-step technique, and how to save bands for your journal.
- How to Use a Cigar Sampler to Find Your Perfect Cigars
A cigar sampler lets you taste multiple blends before buying a full box. Learn how to choose, smoke, and track samplers to build your ideal humidor.
- How to Set Up a Wineador for Cigars: The Complete Guide
A wineador is a wine cooler converted into a humidor. Learn how to choose, season, humidify, and organize one to store 250–600+ cigars properly.
- How to Build a Cigar Collection: The Collector's Guide
Learn how to build a cigar collection the right way — from choosing your first sticks and setting a budget to organizing, aging, and tracking every cigar you own.
- How to Read Cigar Tasting Notes: A Collector's Guide
Learn to decode cigar tasting notes—earth, cedar, spice, chocolate & more. A practical guide to retrohaling, the thirds method, and training your palate.
- Cigar Strength vs. Body: What's the Real Difference?
Cigar strength = nicotine impact. Cigar body = flavor fullness. They're not the same. Learn how to read both so you always pick the right stick for the moment.
- Which Cigars Age Well? A Collector's Selection Guide
Full-bodied, complex cigars with rich tobacco age best. Learn which blends, wrappers, and characteristics predict good aging — and which cigars to smoke fresh.
- Why Spanish Cedar? The Collector's Guide to Humidor Wood
Spanish cedar buffers humidity, repels tobacco beetles, and enhances cigar aging. Here's exactly why it's the global standard — and what to look for when buying.
- Can You Mix Different Cigars in a Humidor?
Yes — with one hard exception. Learn which cigars must stay separate, how flavor marrying works, and the best ways to organize a mixed humidor.
- How to Light a Cigar: Torch, Matches & Toasting Guide
Toast the foot, never touch the flame to tobacco, and rotate slowly for an even light. This guide covers lighters, technique, burn fixes, and when to relight.
- How to Cut a Cigar: Every Cut Type Explained
Learn how to cut a cigar correctly — straight, V-cut, or punch — with the right depth, tool, and technique for every shape. A collector's practical guide.
- How Long Should Cigars Rest in a Humidor After Buying?
Rest cigars 1–4 weeks in your humidor after buying for the best smoke. Learn when to rest vs. age, how shipping affects cigars, and how to know they're ready.
- Cigar Wrapper Types: Flavor, Color & What to Collect
Connecticut, Maduro, Habano, Corojo, Cameroon — learn what each cigar wrapper tastes like, how to choose one, and which age best in your humidor.
- How to Set Up a Coolidor: The Collector's DIY Guide
A coolidor turns any standard cooler into high-capacity cigar storage for under $50. Here's the complete step-by-step setup guide for serious collectors.
- Cigar Pairing Guide: Best Drinks & Foods for Every Cigar
Match your cigar to the right drink or food every time. Our collector's pairing guide covers whiskey, rum, coffee, wine, beer, and food — by body and flavor.
- How to Set Up a Tupperdor: DIY Cigar Storage Guide
A tupperdor costs under $20 and keeps cigars perfectly humidified. Learn how to choose a container, dial in humidity, and avoid the most common setup mistakes.
- Cigar Sizes & Shapes: The Collector's Vitola Guide
Robusto, Toro, Churchill, Torpedo — every cigar size explained. Learn how vitola, ring gauge, and length affect flavor, burn time, and your humidor collection.
- How to Keep a Cigar Journal: A Collector's Guide
A cigar journal helps you track tasting notes, spot patterns, and remember every smoke. Here's exactly what to record — and why it makes your collection smarter.
- How to Rehydrate Dry Cigars: Save Your Collection
Yes, you can revive dried-out cigars. Learn the step-by-step method to rehydrate cigars safely, how long it takes, and what you'll never fully recover.
- How to Calibrate a Hygrometer for Your Humidor
Learn exactly how to calibrate a humidor hygrometer using the salt test or Boveda kit, plus how often to recalibrate analog vs. digital models.
- What Size Humidor Do I Need? A Collector's Sizing Guide
Choose the right humidor size for your collection. From 25-cigar desktop boxes to 500+ cabinet humidors, here's exactly how to size up without outgrowing your setup.
- How to Travel with Cigars: TSA Rules & Packing Guide
Yes, cigars are allowed on planes. Learn TSA rules, carry-on vs. checked tips, travel humidor options, humidity hacks, and international customs limits.
- Cigar Beetles in Your Humidor: Prevention & Treatment
Tiny pinholes in your cigars? Learn how to identify cigar beetles, eliminate an infestation with the freeze method, and keep your humidor beetle-free for good.
- How Long to Age Cigars: A Collector's Timing Guide
Most cigars benefit from 3–12 months of rest; fuller blends reward 2–5 years. Learn how long to age cigars by body, wrapper, and ring gauge.
- Cigars in a Humidor: Cellophane On or Off?
Cellophane on or off in the humidor? The answer depends on your goal. Here's how to decide for short-term storage, aging, and mixed collections.
- How to Organize a Humidor: The Collector's System
A well-organized humidor protects flavor, prevents mix-ups, and makes rotation effortless. Here's the system serious collectors actually use.
- How to Store Cigars: The Complete Guide for Collectors
Field-tested guide to storing cigars at the right humidity, temperature, and conditions, from a single stick to a full collection.